We have all been there and asked the question, “what should I be looking for when shopping for a new necktie?” We are here to help, the first thing to consider is the fabric of the tie. There are several to choose from.

SILK TIES

For year round ties that will work across a range of seasons and occasions, silk is your best consideration. A little information about why silk ties are amazing. Silk is one of the most durable fabrics in the world. Even though silk is incredibly soft, its tensile strength is very high. Silk’s elasticity contributes to its tensile strength. Silk Fabrics retain their shape and do a good job of not wrinkling. Silk repels dirt due to its smooth finishing and also repels dirt due to its smooth finish.

LINEN TIES

If you are seeking ties for more casual settings, especially during the warmer months, a linen tie is another ideal choice. Linen is a lighter weight fabric that breathes easily, making it an appropriate choice during casual settings in warmer weather.

The downside to wearing a linen tie is that it creases easily, and so should be avoided for most formal occasions, such as work, a cocktail party or a presentation. They are, however, great for summer weddings!

COTTON TIES

Cotton ties, like linen, are lighter weight and ideal for casual settings and for warmer weather.

Cotton is a great choice for more casual settings and are typically lighter and have a more relaxed look.

WOOL TIES

An ideal replacement for silk or lighter weight summer ties, wool ties provide you an additional texture to your look, specially during the fall and winter months. Given that wool is a heavier fabric, its insulation properties make it a fantastic choice for the fall and winter seasons.

The tones of most wool ties help them blend in perfectly with the colder months, where colors such as olive green, mustard yellow and navy replace the summer pastel colors of light pink, light blue and lavender.

This combination of texture and color make wool ties a preferred choice during the winter months. While wool ties can work well with textured jackets such as tweed, they are an excellent complement to traditional suits. Wool ties drape well and tie thick knots, making them a perfect neckwear choice for any setting.

TIE PATTERN

When choosing a tie pattern it is best to look for tie patterns that will help elongate your frame. Going with patterns such as stripes or solids will work particularly well, especially if you are on the slim side.

For shorter guys who are more stout, striped ties can still work extremely well, but replace the solid ties with geometric or repeating patterns that are smaller. Larger geometric patterns will make you look more stocky and take away from what we are trying to do.

TIE KNOTS

There are quite a few options when it comes to tying your tie in fact I read that there is 177,147 ways to tie a tie, crazy right? Luckily you only really need to know three: the Four-in-hand, Windsor, and Half-Windsor.

FOUR-IN-HAND

This knot is the most popular and is the easiest one to tie. This should be the first one you learn.

WINDSOR

The full Windsor knot is a classic. What is important to know here, is that the Windsor knot requires a longer tie as it requires a couple of wrappings. The full Windsor or Double Windsor knot creates a large symmetrical knot that wears best with a wide collar.

HALF-WINDSOR

The Half-Windsor is another popular choice as it creates a medium sized knot that works with most collar types.

Do yourself a favor, go to YouTube look up these knots and watch a few tutorial videos and you’ll be tying these knots in no time!